Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.” Consider that statement, which is often misused and misunderstood. Many people, some well meaning, others not so much, have sought to use it to keep someone down, or to make this statement mean something other than it does. To get its full and true meaning, without inserting any opinions in to it prior, lets break it down:
Blessed. Those who are poor in spirit are blessed. They receive a blessing from God WITHIN their current condition. They are not blessed to receive (although they shall receive), but blessed within their current status, which is poor in spirit.
…are the poor in Spirit. And what does this condition mean? They are impoverished, destitute, without. They have nothing. Simply put, the poor in Spirit have nothing apart from God. They have no rights to boast or be proud, they are of low means, and, before God, have nothing in which they could demand or call attention to that would give them good standing before Him. It is the most humble and submissive state, as those who are poor in spirit MUST rely completely and utterly on God. It is in this state they currently are blessed, and in this state they will receive the Kingdom of God. And, if we must consider biblical truth, it is the state we must all aspire to. Is your dependence on God? Do you put all of your time, treasures and talents in to this life? What is holding you back from complete and utter dependence on God, i.e., being poor in Spirit?
…for they shall receive the Kingdom of God. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 that unless one is born again, they cannot see the Kingdom of God. This requires us to fulfill what He said in Luke 9:23, that we must deny ourselves, pick up our crosses daily, and follow after Him. This self-denial and dying to ourselves, this being poor in spirit is not a temporary state, but an every day thing. One can be rich in material things, but still be poor in spirit, recognizing that salvation and strength only comes from following Christ Jesus. And this is when we receive His Kingdom. When we depend on Him, the Holy Spirit compensates us for our deficiencies, He receives strength from Christ and gives it to us. We receive fruits in the Spirit, produced, not by us, but through Him, of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. The Kingdom is ours only as we let go and become poor in Spirit. But what we release is nothing in comparison to what we gain.
Romans 8:18-39
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can bei against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
